Flow through pressure accumulator



United States Patent [72] Inventors Murry Allewitz and [56] References CM I UNITED STATES PATENTS [21] P 720438 2,861,595 11/1958 Pier 133/30 [22] PM 2 875 788 3/1959 Pier 138/30 Patented w. 27 I, [73] Assignee Greer Hydraulics, Inc. Primary Examiner-Laveme D. Geiger Los 8 8, Calla-uh Assistant ExaminerR. J. Sher a corporation olNew York Attorne -Arthur B. Colvin [54] FLOW THROUGH PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR 3 cums 6 Dnwingn" ABSTRACT: This invention relates to the art of pressure ac- [52] us. Cl 138/30 Qi l r n m re particularly to a pressure accumulator [51] In, (I F16] 55/12 of the flow through type' which may be inserted directly into a 50 Field ofSearch 138/26, 30, n through which fluid under pressure is flowing to p 1 13, 1 14; 210/441, 442, 435, 445 s'ete for pressure surges or pulses in such line.

36 /4 9/ /2 44 L 4 {5 ii'] 32 25 l\1 a 47 8 42 /5 1+6 120 c 72/ 48 E 2/ r- :7:-: 1.2 1:: 7? J3 J6 32 w 9 a a 5/46 49 )1 w -1;\ 47

Patented Oct. 27, 1970 Sheet 1 of 2 Patented Oct. 27, 1970 Sheet 2 of2 INVENTORS MURRY ALLEWITZ ABDUZ ZAHID ATTORNEY FLOW THROUGH PRESUKE ACCUMULA'DOR As conducive to an understanding of the invention, it is to be noted that where a system is provided through which a liquid food product such as milk is flowing, and such milk is being forced under pressure into a homogenizer, for example, the action of the homogenizer causes pulses of relatively great amplitude to be developed in the system with resultant pres sure surges which could cause cracking of the pipes or conduits utilized in the system with resultant breakdown of the system and loss of the milk.

It is essential in systems in which a liquid food'product such as milk is being handled, that all parts of the system which may be contacted by the milk, be readily accessible for cleaning to prevent contamination of the milk. 7

Accordingly, where a pressure accumulator is used in the system to dampen the pulses and the entire portion'of such accumulator which is contacted by the milk is not readily available for cleaning, such accumulator is not satisfactory for its intended use to relieve pressure surges in the line.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide a flow through accumulator which is relatively simple in construction and may readily be fabricated and is not likely to become deranged even after long use and which may readily be connected into a line through which milk under pressure is flowing to a homogenizer, for example, and which will dependably dampen pressure surges in the system without likelihood of damage'to the defomiable partition utilized in the accumulator and which accumulator may be readily cleaned while still connected in the system by merely flowing a cleaning solution therethrough, and for more thorough cleaning may readily be removed from the system and disassembled to permit all components thereof which are exposed to contact with the milk flowing therethrough, to be reliablycleaned and which also may readily be assembled and reconnected into the system.

According to the invention these objects are accomplished by the arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter described and more particularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention:

FIG. 1 is an end view of the flow through accumulator;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the mandrel or core as-' sembly of the accumulator;

FIG. 4 is an end view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the flow through accumulator comprises an elongated cylindrical casing 11 of strong rigid material such as stainless steel or the like capable of withstanding the pressures to which the unit willbe subjected m use.

Positioned in the casing and extending the length thereof is-' a diaphragm assembly 12.- As shown in FIG. 2, the diaphragm assemblycomprises a substantially'cylindrical tube l3'of resilient material such as rubberor synthetic. plastic of like physical characteristics capable of readily collapsing and expanding in use. The tube 13 has outwardly extending annular rims 14, 15 at each end formed integral therewith withthe outer periphery of each rim presenting-a flat surface 16;

The inner side 17 of each rim l4, l5 has a substantially V- shaped annular groove 18 therein, the inner beveledwall surface 19 of which extends beyond-such inner side 17 and is integral with the wall portion 20 of the tube.

As is clearly shown in FIG. 2, the thickness of the wall portion 20 of the tube gradually decreases from the ends 21 of the inner beveled wall surface 19 toward the central portion 22 thereof.

The inner surface 20 of the tube has, a plurality'of ribs 13' extending the length thereof and preferably molded integral therewith. Illustratively eight equidistantly spaced ribs 13' are provided as is clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the function of which will be hereinafter described.

Secured to the outer side 23 of each of the rims l4, 15 is an end cap 25, 26.

The end caps 25, 26 are substantially identical and each comprises a sleeve 31 having an outwardly extending annular flange 32 of diameter just slightly less than the inner diameter of casing 11. Thus, the end cap 26 may be moved through the 11 when the accumulator is assembled.

The wall of sleeve 31 is of reduced thickness at its inner end as at 33, said reduced thickness portion 33 and adjacent wall surface of the sleeve 31 being bonded to the associated rim l4, 15 to form an integral unit.

The end cap 25 differs from end cap 26 only in that the periphery of the annular flange 32 thereof has an outwardly extending annular rim 34' of greater diameter than the inner diameter of the casing 11 to define an annular shoulder 35 adapted to abut against the end 36 of the casing 11.

Thus, to mount the diaphragm assembly 12 in the casing 11, the end cap 26 thereof is pushed through the casing 11 until the flange 32 thereof protrudes slightly beyond the end 37 thereof. The length of tube 13 is such that with the end cap 26 so positioned, the shoulder 35 of flange 32 of end cap 25 will abut against the end 36 of the casing 11. The periphery of flange 32 of end cap 26 is then welded as at 38 to the end 37 of the casing-ll andthe periphery of rim 34 of end cap 25 is welded as at 39 to the end 36 of the casing.

The resilient tube 13 will extend longitudinally of the casing 11 with the outer periphery 16 of rims 14, 15, which are of diameter slightly greater than the inner diameter of the casing, pressing against the inner surface of the casing and with the outer surface of thetube l3 spaced from the inner wall surface of the casing 11 to define a gas chamber 41.

The gas chamber 41 may be charged with gas under pressure througha port 42 extending through the casing 11, a gas valve assembly 40'ofconventional type being associated with said port 42. The bore of each of the sleeves 31 of each end cap 25, 26 is of slightly enlarged diameter at its outer end as at to receive the inner end 44 of connector sleeves 45, 46 which are secured in the bores as by welding at 47 and 48'.

Each of the connector sleeves 45, 46 has an outwardly extending annular flange 49 at its outer end to permit coupling thereto of a pipe or conduit (not shown) in conventional manner.

Positioned in the connector sleeve 46 at its inner end is a support member 51, which comprises a hub 52 having a plurality of radiating rods or arms 53, illustratively four in number, having their inner ends secured to the hub 52 at one end as at 54 and having their outer end secured as by welding tothe inner end of connector sleeve 46 as at 55. Thus, the bore 56 of the hub 52 extends axially of the casing 11, said bore having a longitudinal keyway 56' therein.

Positioned in the casing 11 and extending axially through the tube 13 is a mandrel assembly 60 which desirably comprises an elongated sleeve 61, preferably of stainless steel, having-four equidistantly spaced notches 62 ineach end 63 and 64 thereof and a plurality of relatively narrow parallel slots 61" extending the length thereof with the slots alternately being closer to the ends'63, 64 of the sleeve. The slots 61' are of width to permit flow of fluid thereth'roughbut prevent extrusion of the tube 13 when the latter is pressing thereagainst.

Positioned in end 63 of the sleeve 61 is a retainer assembly which comprises a central hub member 65, illustratively circular in cross section which has a reduced diameter axial and 66 extending outwardly therefrom, the stud 66 having a rounded outer end 67 and a longitudinal keyway 68.

The hub'65 has a transverse bore 69 therethrough through which extends a rod 71 which protrudes an equal distance from opposed sides of the hub.

The rod 71 is secured in the bore 69 as by welding as at 72. Extending radially outwardly from the hub are rods 73,74 each'of which is spaced 90 from the protruding portions of rod 71 and has its inner end secured as byweldirig at to the periphery of hub 65.- Thus, therods 71,73, 74 define a spider S, the ends of which fit into the notches 62 in the end 63 of the sleeve 61 and are secured in position-as by welding at 75' rigidly to mount the asembly in the end 63.

iThe end of stud 66 has anannular receive aC -clipC; as shown in FlGSJandjZ, releasably'to lock the mandrel assembly 12 in place. Whenso mounted, the t spider stwill be in the coupling sleeve 45 as shown in HQIand by reason ofthe protruding 77'ofrods. 7s,19;s1, the associated end 64 of the sleeve 61 willbe 'retainedin position with substantially no transverse moven ment.

Similarly, a retainerhassembly is mounted in theend64 of t thesleeve. Thisretainer asembly comprises a rod 76'of length greater thantthe outer diameter-of sleeve 61 sothat it willex-: tend peripheryof the latter as'at 77. Secured to the 1; rod 76 as by ats-IB are ends of 79;81, l the 76,:79, aLthus-forming a rigid'assemblyfor spiders.

with the ends oftherods fitting into the associated notchesfil, 1 and being place as by welding-at8 2.'"lhejouter ends 1 77 of each ofthe rods76, 79, 81 extend beyond the J l outer periphery of sleeve 61 and "as, shown in FIG. 2, :the 1 diameter of rod76 and the s e 'r av, s1. s just slightly lessthantheinnerdiameterofcouplingsleevefl.f h To. complete the assemblyofthe unit atter the assembly 12 is secured in casing l1,"it'is merely necessary 1 to insert the mandrel flassembly 60' through the connector sleeve and the bore of tube 13 and position the stud 66in the bore 56 ofhub 52, Thesleeve61 ispositioned to alignthe keyway 68 therein with the keyway 56 'fin bore56 of hub 52 t and the key pin 68' is positioned in saidfaligned keyways'.

r Thus the slots 61' will be l positioned $023810 be circumferentiallylspaced froman' associated rib 31'. Consequently;

when thetube 13 is compressed againstthe sleeve 61;the tube h A 13 the position sbownin broken lines in FIG. 6 in- 1 which win lniimqiml Pace 5 mm could rapidly build upunlesetheteguipment each ofthe slots61'1 g,

groove (FIG. 3) to t In operation, the-unit above described is insertedforexample, in the feedh'lin'e to a milkhomogenizer whichis fed with milk under pressure. Due tothe operation of the homogenizer,

? pulsations are created intthe feed line, which, unless dampened, eould'cause crackingofthe feed linesydamage to the t 5 valves usedin the system and the like; The flow-throu mulatorhoftthe present invention is designed to absorb such t Y pulses to prevent the undesirable eflects above noted. I

accu

Thus, inloperation of the flow-through accumulator fthew through valvedflh Asa result, the tube will bemoved against theouter periphery of the sleeve- 61 with asmalllor Lalignedwitheachofthe slots6l'. h T

Furthermore, due to thepressure inchamber 41, the cute t wall 90 of the V-groove 18 will tend to be moved outwardly to h provides dependable seal at 91. As the fluid under pressure is forced through the line; it will flow through the spaces defined l by the spiders for:example,: in connector sleeve 46 and then flow through thehbore of the sleeve 6l;tthrough the spaces 1 defined by the spider 8'0 and then the discharge line connected'to sleeve 45. lnaddition therewill'also be some slighttlow offluid through the spaces L adjacent the :i

ribs l3'ofthe tube 13.

j chamber isflrst charged with-a suitable gas under presure t Furthermore: bypreason OfhflBLlOOfl Sfl'llCfiOll above described, it is a relatively simple nnttertto remove the manoffithe tube is which preventtearingdthe tint awayfi'omtheendcaptowhichitisbonded I The'unit may be cleaned while connected in the system by w flushing a'cleaning liquid t nde tet tttethmu h the unit. lit in t j. suchfluid enteis theconnector 46,-for example, it

h longitudinally sleeve 61 and slots 6l' thereinaswell spaces a L adjacent'each of theribs l3 and-hence deflectthe portions of the tube between the ribs outwardly, so that the enure inner surfaceof the tube will be exposed tothe actionof the clean-:

ing solution for dependable cleaning thereof. 1 t

1 j assembly 60 by merely removing the 1 1C clipC shown in .;HGS. 11 and 2 and then removing the keypi 68. Thereupon,

the entiremandrel assembly} can be moved outwardly through e p s Lvention could: be madefwithout departing from the scope of: j ;:thb ,claims,'itisintended that all matter contained in the above descriptiomorin shall be interpreted as illustrative and-not in a sense.

We claim: t

1. Ai flow through accumulator comprising a rigid cylindrical casing, a pairhof end capssecured respectively to theh'ends jot said casing, each ofsaid endcapslhavingan axial opening therethrough, ,a support member [extending transversely through the opening in one of said caps, member having passagewaystherethrough and having a central hub t ao e having an axial bore, an elongated ofreailientt I deformable material in the form of a tubeextending axially through said secured at its respective ends to said "end caps thetouter surface of said tube defining anannular therethrough, said sleeve lmvingaretainerassembly at one axial stud adaptedto seat in the boreiof saidgcentrsl hub,

: meats releasably to retain said s tudin t bore ofaaid. hub to *preventaxial movement of said sleeve said sleeve having a When there are pressure surges in thefluidpassing-through the sleeve 61, due to the plurality of elongated slots 61 in the sleeve and the; longitudinal space L aligned therewith,

pressure will substantially immediately be exerted against the inner surface of thetube l3 causing-the latter to expand out- Due to the V-shaped annular groove 18 in each of thet rims wardlycompressing theg'as in chamber 41 and hence dampen- Q ingthe'pressuresurges.

retainer assembly at its other end extending transversely cap,forflowof liquidtherethrough. q

t z 'lhecombinationsetfoithinclaiml inwhichmanssre provided to preventrotarymovementof said stud in said hub.

3. The combination set forthin claim 2 in which saidstud 5t and said hub have complementary key andLkeyway confonna tions toprevent rotary movement ofsaid studin said hub.

fluid being-handled only contacts the '1 l :ttl-ie inner surface ofthedeformable tubell3, it is apparent that 20 the mandrel asembly is removable and is devoid of any tcavities or recesseswhich'are not readily availablefor clean-h gas chamber with respect to the inner surface'of said casing, '45 y to chargesaid gaschamber, arigid in t bore ofsaid tube and extending axially thereof, said sleeve having apertures in the wall surface thereof forflow ofliquid i fl a mu havins p s w vn sm s m 1m assembly beingpositionedinthe t 1 theiother endhcapandhaving meanssubstantially'to prevent;

transverse displacement of the assoeiatedendofthe sleeve whereby the. sleeve-isreleasably mounted in-said the bore ofsaid sleeve aligned with in said end 

